Vintage! The DKW F12 Roadster | Drive it!

It was the last of its kind. Fifty years ago, an era came to an end with the DKW F12. It was the last car to be produced by Auto Union, the predecessor company to Audi.

[jimmeltonbradley]

In spite of the smoke and the inevitable environmental issues, I really love the sound of a high-revving two-stroke. I would certainly love to own one of these.

[LeadCalibrator]

My parents used to have two of them. I today still own a 3=6 Coupé which once belonged to my dad... Kenner fahren DKW....

[autouniondkw]

The last DKW car ? NO, the F102 was the last DKW car ! The whole point of DKW was the fantastic smooth free revving two stroke engine (3 cylinder 2 stroke = 6 cylinder 4 stroke). Not noisy because it has no clattery valves, high frequency sound yes, perhaps a bit of fan noise of high revs. Smokey - only on start up or slow town driving, but never as bad as a diesel. Two strokes love high revs and being driven hard - more torque per litre then a 4 stroke too. it makes it a ideal drivers car. Nice example of F12 here though, even if it does have a bit of piston slap. The Lubimat was not good for these engines - better to have oil in the petrol in the tank. KENNER FAHREN DKW !

[iaidagger]

Wonderful car!!!! good weight/horsepower rate!!!!... very Sporty!!!!, excellent for hill climb races as wella as track racer in appendix J Touring car races!!!! Thank you for sharing!!!!..

[nygelmiller]

Stylish car, turned sensational car, ad a convertible! The only other car I remember being so stylish as a convertible was the NSU SPORTPRINZ, when they turned the hardtop flashback into the NSU Spyder, (complete with Wankel rotary engine!) Does anybody know if that stylish convertible was also given its soft top by the BAUER company?

[pierrerouvroy]

yes i want one... two stroke ring ding ding ding and tons of blue smoke

[Skoda]

Nope.. There was also the F-102, which would later become the F-103, and shortly thereafter the Audi 60, and upgrade from a two-stroke to a four stroke.

[charlessmyth]

In profile, it looks distinctively similar to the Triumph Herald.

[jan]

And Danish inventivenes and perseverance through the DKW name and Skafte Rasmussen

[owenlewis]

I'm guessing the engine is from the same lineage as those used in the Wartburg and Saab?

[MrPaige]

I don't mind the exhaust smoke, but I wonder how bad it was as far as fuel economy. 2 strokes, at least in my experience, have been very thirsty.

[tommytippee]

Striking resemblance to BMW's 700.

[nygelmiller]

Could have shown us the inside of thè boot!

[MegaBoilermaker]

Not the last ! What about the 1000 s.

[jimmeltonbradley]

In spite of the smoke and the inevitable environmental issues, I really love the sound of a high-revving two-stroke. I would certainly love to own one of these.